Q for Meaghs, FedK or anyone who has swapped the thin yonex grip for leather.

How many grams did a leather grip add to the yonnie?

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on the 98 (since the 310 97 will not be available in the US), hit with the 98d yesterday and liked it; check, loved it. Not a harsh stiff flex, just solid. Reminiscent of a faster swinging kblade98, with much more bite on the ball.

95 looks good (and maybe I should demo that as well) but I'd like to build the frame up to my specs.

This how much the stock yonex grip weighs.

While, this is how much a yonex leather grip weighs straight from the package.

Thanks for that Meaghs,
So approximately 15grams extra for the leather (depending on brand) and 10grams extra for a heavier syn.grip. The static and swing weight should be ok with the 98, no? I want it around 12.0-12.2oz, 5pts.HL and ~330sw. Should be able to acheive this with a stock 98d.

Completely agree, the flex is definitely not harsh; it's a crisp and solid flex. I'd like to go with the 95 but I think the 98 is for me (customized). I was driving the ball and getting massive 'top' on the reverse fh, helped me pick off that extra shot. Also, excellent slice frame, off of both wings. Addictive. Seemed like a versatile racquet (98d) to play strategic tennis with. Figure out your opponents weakness and exploit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meaghan

the flex is cool, its certainly not harsh imo. The leather plus og comes in around 30g minus yonex grip I think is 10-12g so it adds around 20g. You need to compensate in the hoop if you want to keep the balance around 7pts, I've got about 8g from 10-2 its also raised my sw into the 350+ region, so you need to think of that. My spec is now 361g/32cm/355sw.

Yes you are right. Swooping for a leather will inadvertently increase the grip size, thanks to the paper thin stock grip.

That's why I had mail ordered yonex leather grips directly from Japan as they are only 1.4mm in thickness. Most leather grips are 1.8mm thick.

There are other leathers on the market that are 0.8mm, but that's just way too thin.

Figures.

My only concern is, after the grip gets compressed with time, that a 4-1/4 will feel too small. Og's compress within 1/2 an hour.

Planning on gripping the 98d up with a wilson pro-hybrid grip (weighs as much as wilson leather). Maybe if I get a 4-3/8's, wrap it tight, after a couple of days it will have compressed to 'normal' wilson size 3.

I think you are referring to me.....yes I've always liked the bab O it gives the right amount of dampening, the yonex triangle is pretty ugly don't you think....

I dont find the Yonex dampener ugly. I prefer that the dampener be the same brand as the racket but that is plain silly in terms of performance. Once, I had a Volkl dampener to match a Volkl Organix 8 racket and it was terrible.

One should play with what is useful, even a rubber band works well as a dampener for many people, including pros (Roddick and Sharapova to name two).

I dont find the Yonex dampener ugly. I prefer that the dampener be the same brand as the racket but that is plain silly in terms of performance. Once, I had a Volkl dampener to match a Volkl Organix 8 racket and it was terrible.

One should play with what is useful, even a rubber band works well as a dampener for many people, including pros (Roddick and Sharapova to name two).

Thanks for that Meaghs,
So approximately 15grams extra for the leather (depending on brand) and 10grams extra for a heavier syn.grip. The static and swing weight should be ok with the 98, no? I want it around 12.0-12.2oz, 5pts.HL and ~330sw. Should be able to acheive this with a stock 98d.

Completely agree, the flex is definitely not harsh; it's a crisp and solid flex. I'd like to go with the 95 but I think the 98 is for me (customized). I was driving the ball and getting massive 'top' on the reverse fh, helped me pick off that extra shot. Also, excellent slice frame, off of both wings. Addictive. Seemed like a versatile racquet (98d) to play strategic tennis with. Figure out your opponents weakness and exploit.

Klem, congrats it is a great frame. You can hit massive flat bombs with this one.

Thanks for that Meaghs,
So approximately 15grams extra for the leather (depending on brand) and 10grams extra for a heavier syn.grip. The static and swing weight should be ok with the 98, no? I want it around 12.0-12.2oz, 5pts.HL and ~330sw. Should be able to acheive this with a stock 98d.

Completely agree, the flex is definitely not harsh; it's a crisp and solid flex. I'd like to go with the 95 but I think the 98 is for me (customized). I was driving the ball and getting massive 'top' on the reverse fh, helped me pick off that extra shot. Also, excellent slice frame, off of both wings. Addictive. Seemed like a versatile racquet (98d) to play strategic tennis with. Figure out your opponents weakness and exploit.

My only concern is, after the grip gets compressed with time, that a 4-1/4 will feel too small. Og's compress within 1/2 an hour.

Planning on gripping the 98d up with a wilson pro-hybrid grip (weighs as much as wilson leather). Maybe if I get a 4-3/8's, wrap it tight, after a couple of days it will have compressed to 'normal' wilson size 3.

Get a thin and light leather, Pre stretch them, they don't get compressed even after much usage. Synthetic replacement grips will probably need constant replacing.. And it's annoying having to use them a couple of days before they get to the right size.

Completely agree, the flex is definitely not harsh; it's a crisp and solid flex. I'd like to go with the 95 but I think the 98 is for me (customized). I was driving the ball and getting massive 'top' on the reverse fh, helped me pick off that extra shot. Also, excellent slice frame, off of both wings. Addictive. Seemed like a versatile racquet (98d) to play strategic tennis with. Figure out your opponents weakness and exploit.

Well put, the 98 is more of a conoisseur's frame-- you can do all sorts of crafty things with it. The 95 is more of a hitter's frame-- drive the ball hard and deep to win points.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boricua

I dont find the Yonex dampener ugly. I prefer that the dampener be the same brand as the racket but that is plain silly in terms of performance. Once, I had a Volkl dampener to match a Volkl Organix 8 racket and it was terrible.

One should play with what is useful, even a rubber band works well as a dampener for many people, including pros (Roddick and Sharapova to name two).

Haha, I rather like the Yonex damp, they're growing on me. In 18x20's I use the Kirshbaum one exclusively (occasional affairs with a head logo, the old rubber ones not the junky plastic clear ones). Recently, now that I've been hitting 16x19, I played with a jolly roger square one, or the Mamba tennis one (really awesome damp).

Now that I got free yonex ones, they match and I like em. My only complaint is that the pointy end isn't conducive to spinning the racquet

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meaghan

I'm a fashion victim, its all about the colour

I have the black, white, and am working on getting the yellow one!! I might have to get another frame first haha.

__________________
"Play like to want to win, not like you want to avoid losing."
Yonex 95D

Turns out the string sensitive issue was the Iontec Black. I left my 48lbs in the hot car and let a flat-hitting friend play with it for a little and now it's just perfect. Strung my other frame at 46 lbs and it's great too.

__________________
"Play like to want to win, not like you want to avoid losing."
Yonex 95D

Bought this recently and thought it was a mistake but I had a surprisingly brilliant performance with it this evening and thinking it might settle my light vs heavy debate. It is strung as standard with Pro Poly Tour. Stringing costs a fortune in Surrey and I dont have my own stringer so can someone recommend a string and tension.

As it happens, the stock string wasn't bad. Felt tight though and shoulder is a bit sore. Bit worried about shoulder hurting, this is the second racket that has done this recently (the POG OS was the other). Recommendations?